In a world of many sources to choose from, of many people vying for your attention, of distractions left and right, it can be difficult to hone in on one news source. Personally, I find this search just as difficult as the next person; however, there are a few things that I look for to help narrow down my choices.
As an aspiring journalist, the primary qualities I look for are a history of objectivity and a consideration of multiple perspectives. Additionally, I consult the Media Bias Chart curated by AllSides. With these
checkpoints in mind, I have been able to narrow down a few sources from which I get the majority of my news or world updates. They are as follows:
#1 Reuters: From beginnings in the 1850s with Paul Julius Reuter, Reuters, as a news source and a business, has built a reputation of trustworthiness, speed, and accuracy. To the best of their ability, they attempt to follow a true and authentic journalistic style by remaining objective and fair to each side as much as possible.
According to the Media Bias Chart, they are ranked in the middle, indicating that they can be seen as reasonably objective compared to their competitors. In my eyes, Reuters checks most of the boxes and gives me a clear rundown of the news.
#2 The Associated Press (AP): Although their rating has shifted over the last four years, the Associated Press is still one of my preferred places to receive my news. Aesthetics are not everything, yet the way they set up their website and display their news catches my eye. The organization and attention to detail that is put into it tells me about their work ethic and attention to detail overall. To me, this means that they most likely carry that attitude into their journalistic work as well, giving me more trust in how they convey the news.
Additionally, as someone interested in the photojournalistic side of news as well, I have appreciated the AP's work in photography, which I see come across my media feed.
#3 Instagram: This leads to my third news source: Instagram. Despite being seen as an unreputable source, I believe that when used properly, it can be a very beneficial way to access news.
For example, as a college student, I do not have the financial means to subscribe to multiple news websites at once.
Through Instagram, I can access multiple news outlets that end up posting reels about their top stories or even breaking news. In this fashion, I can stay up to date about certain things that are happening in the United States or other parts of the world, and occasionally read the public's opinions on the event.
The use of hashtags on news posts can serve as the typical article link, allowing me to go on a deep dive into a specific aspect of the news post that was made. Whether that has been a political figure, an organization, or a business, those hashtags can be very useful.
#4 TikTok: When I am looking to get a feel for what the public is thinking about a current news-related issue, and want to hear multiple perspectives, I go to TikTok.
Although fact-checking is imperative for utilizing this app for news, the hoards of citizen-journalists that can be accessed through it are immense.
Depending on what my algorithm is, my main feed displays intriguing videos that have helped to humanize the news that I receive from mainstream news sources a bit more. That aspect is important to me.
At the same time, my algorithm has presented videos from my local verified news stations, allowing me to engage with reputable news as well. The plethora of content that I can acquire from TikTok grants me the ability to understand news events from many different perspectives and holds me accountable to do my own research.
#5 Friends: Last but not least, conversing with those close to me about what is going on in the world is one of my favorite ways to get the news. Different people have different perspectives, so having friends who come from various walks of life and ethnic backgrounds makes conversations about the news quite interesting.
Some of my friends pick up on social issues that occur in the media, while others recount news about politics or the environment. The fact that everyone has something unique to say keeps me engaged and more receptive to the news that I receive.
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